Stanchion.



s. c. SWIFT.

sTANoHIoN. APPLIUATIOI FILED MAY 31,`1910.

988,602. Patented Apr.4,1911'.

STANLEY C. SWIFT, OF CUBA, NEW YORK.

STANCHION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1911..

- Application filed May 31, 1910. Serial No. 564,294.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANLEY C. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cuba, in the county of Allegany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stanchions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in stanchions of that class in which the uprights are constructed to turn upon vertical pivots, the one being pivotally mounted at its lower end and locked in its closed position at its upper end by a latch.

The present invention has for its objects among others to provide an improved simple construction of this general character combining cheapness of manufacture, ease of movement and certainty of action, and one in which the pivot of the latch serves also as a weight to hold the latch in place and as a means whereby the same may be manipulated. I provide a latch that does not wear the upper Stringer or plate, which is automatic in its action, and with provision so that when the animal is released the latch will not lock in its open position, but remains stationary in position for the ani mals return.

By the present construction when the.

animal turns his head to either side, the side of the stanchion turns back toward the body, theneck turns naturally and the head rests upon the body with ease and comfort. It allows the animal while standing or lying down to assume a natural position, and to lick and care for itself. There is no weight upon the neck, no galling chains and no worrying confinement of the head. Furthermore, when the cattle are left at night they are sure to be found safe in the morning, there is no getting loose nor interference with each other and no possible danger of becoming entangled in any way. The releasing is easily accomplished when desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.

The invention, in its preferred form, is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, with the numerals of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a front elevation of the improved stanchion showing the same in its open or unlocked position. Fig. 2 is a view of an enlarged scale, showing parts in sec* tion and portions broken away, with the parts in their open or unlocked position. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, with the parts in the locked or closed position. Fig. 4 is a top plan with the parts in the position in which they are seen in Fig. 3 with the cross beam removed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional detail showing the beveled faces of the cross beam and latch.

Like numerals o f reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates two vertical bars or timbers, 2 the sill and 3 the cross beam, of usual construction in this class of devices.

4 is a block or bottom cross piece mounted in the sill 2 by means of a vertical pivot 5.

6 is the head or top crossl piece mounted to turn upon a pivot 7 in the head, or in the cross beam 3, so that the necessary turning movements may be easily attained.

8 is the fixed upright stanchion bar affixed at its upper and lower ends to the cross head 6 and the block 4 in any well known way.

9 is an additional upright connecting the ends of the top cross beam or head 6 and the lower block 4. y

10 is the other upright stanchion bar, it being understood that the neck of the cow or other animal is designed to be secured or confined between these two bars 8 and 10.

The head or cross piece 6 is provided with a longitudinal slot 11 as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 within which is pivoted the latch 12, upon a pivot 13, held in the opposite walls of the said slot as will be readily understood from Fig. 4. This pivot extends through both walls and at one end is provided with some suitable means, such as a spring cotter pin or the like 14, see Figs. 2 and 3, to prevent its displacement. This pivot pin is in the form of a bail, at its other leg 15 being enlarged or made heavier as seen in Fig. 4 and this leg 15 is passed through the latch and is extended through curved slots 16 in the walls of the head 6 upon opposite sides of the slot, as will be best understood upon reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4. The cross portion 17 forms a convenient handle by which the latch maybe manipulated when desired. As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the latch is pivoted to one side of its ylongitudinal center so as to cause it to gravitate into the position seen in Fig. 2 when the bar 1() is moved to the right and also to gravitate in the same direction after the said bar has been moved into the position in which it is seen in Fig. 3.

The free end of the latch is shown as provided with a notch 18 for engagement with the upper Vcorner of the stanchion bar 10 as seenin Fig. 3. The upper end of the stanchion bar 10 is shown as provided with a notch 19 for cooperation with the end wall 20 of the slot in the head 6 as seen in Fig. 3, for an obvious purpose. i

As seen in Figs. 2 and 3 the under face of the cross beam 3 is provided with a recess 21 into which the upper end of the latch is designed to engage when the stanchion bar 10 is moved to the right as seen in Fig. 2 and thus prevent the turning of the stanchion, keeping it in position for the entrance of the anima In order to provide for the automat-ic movement of the latch on its pivot when the stanchion is turned into a position to bring it into the position seen in Figs. 2 and 3 in case the bar 10 is unlocked l bevel the lower edge of the cross beam 3 as seen in Fig. 1 at 22 and correspondingly bevel the upper edge of the latch as seen at 23 so that when the latchstrikesthe beam it will be automatically depressed and thus pass the beam and swing into the recess, as will be readily understood.

Vith the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above described the operation will be readily understood, especially when taken in connection with the annexed drawings. Briefly stated, it is as follows with the parts in the position in which they are seen in Fig. 2 the stanchion is ready to receive the animal; the upper end of the latch being received in the recess 21 the stanchion cannot turn on its pivot. When the animal is in place the stanchion bar 10 is moved to the left and as its upper end strikes the lower end of the latch it raises the latter and thus moves its upper end out of the recess in the cross beam so that the stanchion will be free to turn on its pivots. As the bar 10 moves farther the lower, weighted end of the latch is moved upward the bar 10 riding upon its under face and as soon as the upper end of the bar 10 reaches the position shown in Fig. 3 the latch drops, being aided by the preponderance of weight upon that side of its pivot and the notch at the end of the latch engaging the corner of the bar 10 holds the latter against movement to the right and the animal'is locked in. The stanchion is then free to turn upon its vertical pivots, the upper portion of the latch being below the lower edge of the cross beam 3. The locking is automatic. To release the animal all that it is necessary to do is to raise the latch by the handle portion of the bail and the bar 10 drops away from the bar 8 freeing the animal, and at the same f time the latch automatically engages in the recess 21, thus holding the stanchion stationary in proper position for the return of the animal.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the in-v vention, or sacrificing any of its advantages.

l/Vhat is claimed as new 15:--

1. A framework, a stanchion mounted on vertical pivots therein, a gravitating latch, and a bail-like pivot for the latch, having one leg enlarged to weight the latch.

2. A. framework, a stanchion mounted therein on vertical pivots, a pivot for support-ing a latch, havingone leg enlarged and weighted and a cross portion forming a handle, and a latch mounted on one leg of said pivot and having the weighted-leg secured therein and movable through curved slots in the head of the stanchion.

3. A frame work, a stanchion mounted therein on vertical pivots, a latch having a notch at one end, said stanchion havingrits `head piece provided with a slot in which said latch is movable and the opposite walls of said slot having vertical curved slots, and a bail having one end serving as the pivot for said latch and its other leg secured in said latch and working through the slots of the head piece.

ln testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. v

STANLEY C. SWIFT.

lVitnesses JAMES W. BocKHovnN, A. C. SWIFT.

Copies of this patent may be obtainedfor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

